Held on February 17, Cleveland Construction Safety Day provided attendees an opportunity to learn about current industry trends and emphasize key topics crucial to the well-being of construction workers.
Put on in part by the Construction Employers Association, this event is just one example of the industry’s continued emphasis on creating a safer workplace environment.
Bill Donovan, Deputy Regional Administrator for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region V, discussed major safety issues facing the Ohio workforce including the rise in workplace fatalities, fall statistics, and the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations at construction sites.
Howie Eberts, OSHA Area Director of Cleveland Office, and Bill Hocevar of Great Lakes Construction discussed all aspects of an OSHA inspection with the crowd of over 200 people at Tri-C Corporate College.
Rich McElhaney, a global safety consultant, delivered the keynote speech. He discussed Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and its role within an Experience Modification Report (EMR). McElhaney repeatedly advocated for taking simple safety precautions to cut back on injuries and save lives on jobsites, a personal testament since he survived a construction accident that has left him in both physical and emotional pain for the rest of his life.
The event concluded with a series of breakout sessions that allowed participants to learn about several topics including JSA, traffic control, scaffolds, confined space, drug impairment recognition, OSHA top 10 citations, rigging, and lessons learned.
